Ramen Tatsu-Ya

Bountiful bowls of ramen have folks lining up at this wildly popular Austin import.

Pint and Barrel

Craft beer and tried-and-true comfort food.

Herradurras

Herradurras stands out in an area lousy with Tex-Mex restaurants.

Chiangmai Thai Kitchen

Reliable Thai and sushi rolls near Times Square Cinema.

BKK Thai Kitchen + Bar

Bangkok by way of Corpus Christi, in a modern space.

B&B Butchers

Lavish service, bodacious cuts of beef, and a sizable wine list.

Black Board Bar-B-Q

Cask & Cork

Texas comfort food and a lively rooftop bar.

Tender Smokehouse

Franklin Barbecue

The best barbecue in the known universe.

Ferris Wheelers Backyard and BBQ

Pepe’s & Mito’s Mexican Cafe

Warm hospitality and authentic Mexican in Deep Ellum.

La Duni Latin Cafe

A Latin hot spot with a decidedly European flair.

2M Smokehouse

On a busy avenue in southeast San Antonio, a line of vehicles—from pickups to Porsches—snakes out of the parking lot and onto the street. These pilgrims have come from all over for brisket with a spicy bark and a fine balance of smoky and beefy flavor that’s so tender it

Cooper’s Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que (Llano)

“Blood makes you related, but barbecue makes you family,” said the camo-clad guy to a young boy across from him at our long communal table. It was three o’clock on a Saturday, but the bare-bones place was humming like Grand Central Station, nearly every table populated by smoked-meat devotees from

Joseph’s Riverport Bar-B-Cue

Riverport is a quintessential small-town barbecue joint, sitting on a corner in a charming East Texas town. After the place burned to the ground five years ago, the city rallied around owner Stephen Joseph. When he could barely make a profit in this secluded small town, the townspeople stepped up

E&J Smokehouse

Roving peacocks and delicious barbecue in a lovely setting.

Berry Best BBQ

Smoke Sessions Barbecue

Micklethwait Craft Meats

Fall weather is perfect for barbecue at Micklethwait’s outdoor venue.

40 Tempura

With a plethora of sushi restaurants in this college town, it’s hard to stand out. But 40 Tempura has managed to do just that. Located in a shopping center that was once a restaurant graveyard, this “outskirts area” eatery is now anything but. Soft music and subdued lighting make for

Evie Mae’s Pit Barbeque

Even sides and desserts get loving care at Evie Mae’s.

Killen’s Barbecue

Barbecue worth the drive from Houston.

Bodacious Bar-B-Q (Hallsville)

Running a barbecue business takes everything, which is exactly why Gabriel and Kasie Ritter don’t want their kids to carry on the family business.

Smoky Rose

Don’t get put off by the fancy fixins—the barbecue is true.

Lovers Seafood & Market

The folks behind Shinsei have branched out, and they appear to be on the right track. We loved the New Orleans gumbo, a mix of ocean morsels in a rich roux, and weren’t at all disappointed with the pricey lobster roll, Maine style, with copious bits of tender meat and

Bob’s Steak & Chop House

The easygoing name says it all.

LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue

A pretty, tree-shaded gravel courtyard that’s home to a coffee shop filled with Austinites on laptops is the improbable location of a food truck serving up some of the best ’cue in the state. The joint’s ethos is aptly summed up in its slogan: “New School BBQ, Old School Service.”

407 BBQ

Don’t miss out on TM BBQ Week from October 29-November 6.2022 TM BBQ Week Special: Jack Reubie Pastrami Sandwich.

Guess Family Barbecue

Reid Guess touts his old-school barbecue for good reason—the simply seasoned spareribs are hulking and tender, and the brisket is dazzlingly juicy. But you’d be missing out if you didn’t also stray from the classics. Guess, a former pitmaster at upscale Austin joint Lamberts, had our attention from the moment

Oakwood BBQ

This three-month-old barbecue joint in far north Austin is nothing if not appropriately named. The closest residential street is Oakwood Drive. Huge oak trees shade the outdoor pits and patio. Oak slats cover the walls—indoor and out—and oak is used for just about every piece of furniture in the place.

Helen

Greek favorites reimagined.

Backwoods BBQ

A barbecue joint is a barbecue joint, but this place has a few things that make it special. First, it’s large and brand-new; second, it’s owned a by a nice family of multiple generations; and last but not least, the all-you-can-eat pork ribs (tender and lip lickin’) on Thursdays and

Aka Sushi

A few years back, the chef at this downtown sushi spot made a conscious decision to buy and serve only the freshest fish available. The results are sublime. In place of Philly rolls, for instance, you’ll find king salmon with Japanese mint. The Cabo St. Lucas layers slices of yellowtail

Mesero

A lovely golf course is the backdrop for sophisticated Mexican food.

Christine’s Blues ‘N BBQ

East Side Tavern

This is apparently what the young and hip are looking for in a city barbecue joint: a rustic-industrial space with both craft cocktails and a serious pit. With meat prices that equal and exceed those of Franklin and La Barbecue, is it worth it? On the Top Dog (a.k.a. the

Ed & Tom’s Bar-B-Que

Jake’s Bar-B-Que

A small town barbecue rivalry that’s really no contest.

Henk’s European Deli

Ever heard of a Hot Amsterdam sandwich? Neither had we, but now that we know about this toothsome combination of Dutch ham and Gouda on grilled bread, it will be easy to recommend it to others; pair it with the puckery red cabbage and one of the almost thirty varieties

Coffee House Cafe

Walking in the front door of this neighborhood gathering place to the sound of joyous barking, we made our way to the charming covered patio, where dog lovers can wolf down mighty good food in the company of their four-legged friends. Our choice this day was an order of the

Ah Sing Den

The former East Side Show Room is now a swanky but comfortable lounge named for Ah Sing, whose own establishment allegedly purveyed opium to the literary lights of Victorian London. Alas, only “tipples and morsels” are offered in this sumptuous brick-lined space decked out in Chinese lanterns and gorgeous pastel

Railway Cafe

Really no more than a hole in the wall, adjacent to the railroad tracks and a stone’s throw from the courthouse, this quaint lunch cafe is crazy busy; we endured twenty minutes of busy signal when we tried to call ahead. It would seem the delicious fare is worth it.

The Pit Room

The Pit Room is still in its early phases. They plan to add dinner hours soon, and the menu will continue to grow. Look for some of the items next door at Jackson’s Watering Hole, which Sambrooks also owns. You might remember that name as the bar where Pappa Charlie’s

Porky’s Pit

Corrugated metal walls and friendly service give a country feel to this joint near the bay. Your meat won’t have a crusty “bark,” because they don’t rub it with a thick layer of seasoning before it hits the smoker, but you will find a rosy smoke ring and subtle smoky

The Pit BBQ

If you think barbecue sauce on smoked brisket is an abomination, then you might want to sit down. At the Pit BBQ in San Angelo, they cover sliced brisket with creamy peanut butter and grape jelly in a sandwich they call the Jail Break, and we loved every bite.

Dylan’s Barbeque Saloon

Bryan Mahoney was a catering veteran with a barbecue itch. When Dylan Johnson, the co-owner of Milo’s Bar in Arlington, called about a potential partnership for a bar and barbecue joint in Dallas, Mahoney was in. They opened the doors to Dylan’s Barbeque Saloon in 2015, with Johnson running the bar

Crudo

This rustic spot is a find, with a varied menu of pizzas and pastas as well as accomplished seafood entrées, like blue crab–stuffed shrimp and mascarpone-accented risotto adorned with lovely grilled shrimp, bits of shaved asparagus, and colorful roasted red peppers.

The Grove Smoke Shack

It’s a reasonable facsimile of a barbecue joint, but the glass is spotless and the tin roof ain’t rusted.

Red Wagon BBQ

The best brisket you'll find in Waco.